Show us your best image of East Manatee agriculture

Calling all farmers, ranchers, growers, cowboys and cowgirls living in East Manatee!


Herald file photo/Richard Dymond

We want to see images of you in action on the farm and we'll showcase those photos on our Eastword blog.

Want to share a picture of your prize-winning cow, new vegetable crop or a weekend activity on the farm?

 It will be seen on Bradenton.com and all you have to do is email East Manatee editor Jim Jones at jajones1@bradenton.com or East Manatee reporter Nick Williams at nwilliams@bradenton.com.

Agricultural is a large part of Manatee's history and economic stability.

In 2011, Manatee agricultural business, which consists of livestock, fruits and vegetables, ornamental horticulture and commercial fishing, had a total value of $646 million, making it the second largest economic impact commodity behind tourism.

Vegetable production is the county’s leading agricultural enterprise with 28,000 acres valued at $290 million. Twelve thousand of the 28,000 acres is used for tomato growers.

Manatee and Hillsborough county farmers produce 40 percent of tomatoes grown in Florida and 70 percent grown in the U.S.   Let's share Manatee farm life with the rest of the world.